2020 Porsche 718 Cayman Expert Review

Reviewed by Stefan Ogbac

Once more expensive than its convertible sibling—the 718 Boxster—the Porsche 718 Cayman is now the least expensive way to get yourself into the German brand's sports car lineup (or it's the second cheapest if you consider the Macan SUV a sports car). The 718 Cayman remains a desirable sports car, especially to enthusiasts who value the added rigidity of a coupe. Like the 718 Boxster, the 718 Cayman has a mid-engine layout and is available in multiple versions that will appeal to casual enthusiasts and hardcore track rats.

What's New

The enthusiast-focused 718 Cayman T and 718 Cayman GT4 join the lineup.

What We Think

Although the 718 Cayman and Cayman S lack the aural drama of the flat-six engines in previous models, the new Porsches still offer potent straight-line performance to go with the car's excellent ride and handling. In a 2017 First Drive, we noted that the turbo engines have surprisingly smooth power delivery thanks to minimal turbo lag. Porsche's quick shifting dual-clutch automatic never misses a beat, giving you the right gear when you need it. Put the car on a track, and it's right at home thanks to its finely tuned chassis. As a bonus, the Porsche 718 Cayman is surprisingly practical thanks to its deep frunk and generous cargo area under the rear hatch (5.2 cubic feet and 9.7 cubic feet respectively).

Engine and Transmission Options

Three engines are available on the 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman.

718 Cayman, 718 Cayman T

Engine and Transmission: 2.0-liter turbo flat-four - six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Power: 300 hp/280 lb-ft of torque

718 Cayman S

Engine and Transmission: 2.5-liter turbo flat-four - six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power: 350 hp/309 lb-ft

718 Cayman GT4

Engine and Transmission: 4.0-liter flat-six - six-speed manual
Power: 414 hp/309 lb-ft

Key Features

Standard Features:

Exterior: HID headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors

Interior and Convenience: PCM interface with 8.0-inch touchscreen, 4.6-inch gauge cluster display, partial leather upholstery, eight-speaker audio system

Options:

Exterior: LED headlights

Interior: Built-in navigation, 10-speaker Bose audio system, 12-speaker Burmester surround sound system, Apple CarPlay integration, full leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control

Performance: Active suspension, carbon ceramic brake pads, torque vectoring limited-slip differential, sport exhaust system, speed-sensitive power steering, Sport Chrono package (adds launch control on automatic-equipped cars, auto rev matching on manual-equipped cars, active driveline mounts, and a steering wheel-mounted drive mode selector)